According to the association, the code was created “to uphold the highest level of service and professionalism … while promoting freedom of choice in ceremonies and promoting the values of the Celebrant movement.” Continue reading

Whether you’re a seasoned professional wedding Officiant, someone who is just getting started in the profession, or if you’re only interested in performing a marriage ceremony for a friend or family member, we hope you’ll join our Officiant Forum.

While we’re just getting started and the cupboards are admittedly pretty bare, we’ve invited several industry experts to get involved to provide answers and advice on training, ceremony prep, local laws and procedures — just about anything that might come up during your day-to-day work.

Getting ready to perform your first wedding ceremony? We’ve got a few tips to help.

Getting asked to perform your first wedding ceremony progresses very quickly from “Sure, I’ll do it!” to “Yipes, what do I actually do?”

A wedding ceremony is a beautiful but complex thing. As the designated Officiant, you may not have realized it before, but you’re in charge. It’s the bridal couple’s show, but you’re guiding them through the ceremony. Once you arrive at the altar (or the other designated spot where the vows will be spoken) you’re running things.

What things? Every thing. When you officiate a marriage ceremony, you’re essentially hosting and narrating the program — you are literally the master of ceremonies! Speak in a voice that everyone can hear, even those in the back row — and especially great grandma in the second row. She doesn’t want to miss a word!

The bridal couple will be following your lead, so make sure that every “repeat after me” is followed by short and simple vows for each of them to repeat. Test it out on yourself, because if you can’t remember more than four or five tongue-twisting words to repeat (with your nerves frayed, and a big audience of family and friends staring at you) neither will the couple!